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Difference between Keep oneself dark and Keep someone in the dark

keep oneself darkbe characterized by inconspicuous behavior; keep out of the public eye:

  • He hid himself … kept himself dark, as he says, out of the way and out of the trial.

keep someone in the darkkeep a person in ignorance about smth.:

  • He is prepared to do things his own way and to keep everyone else in the dark as to what is happening.

Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase be dark on someone(Austral. sl.) be angry or annoyed with a person:

  • Dad’s going to be dark on me for getting home so late.